Illustrations of Indian Ornithology ; 



though it is included in Colonel Sykes' list. Towards the South of the Peninsula, the 

 ITliite-browed Fantail is only found at all common in those districts abounding in wood, 

 and it is of frequent occurrence all along the Western coast, though not found, that I am 

 aware, in the dcjitlis of the forests, preferring chiefly avenues of large trees, gardens, and 

 the more open portions of the jungle. In the bare Carnatic, it is only met with now and 

 then in large topes or groves of trees, and extensive gardens, and still more sparingly in 

 some of the patches of low jungle found in the more liilly portions of this district. Towards 

 the more Northern part of the Peninsula however, as I had an opportunity of observing 

 at Jaulnah, N. Lat. 20°, it is much more common and diffused, and may be seen in every 

 clump of trees or garden. 



In its habits it appears to be the most active and restless of the whole family, con- 

 tmually flitting about from branch to branch, snapping up an insect on the wing every 

 now and then, and raising its outspread tail, and lowering its wings, whenever it reseats 

 Itself on a twig. It hardly ever flies beyond a few feet after an insect, and seldom re- 

 turns to the same perch, traversing in succession most of the branches of the tree, and not 

 resting during even the heat of the day. I have usually seen it solitary, occasionally two 

 or three in company. I have several times seen it alight on the ground, and on one or two 

 occasions observed it seated on the back of a cow, and pursuing insects from this unusual 

 perch. Its chief food consists of mosquitoes and other small dipterous insects, whence 

 its Hindustani name. 



It has a pleasing little song, which it warbles forth every now and then, consisting 

 of several notes following each other in a regiilarly descending scale. Colonel Sykes speak- 

 ing togetherof this bird, and L. fuscoventris, says, " The male has a very sweet note. He 

 spreads and raises his tail over his head in hopping from bough to bough." Its popular 

 name in Teloogoo is Dasharee pitta, a name wliich refers to the conspicuous white forehead 

 and eyebrows, Dasharee being the Teloogoo name for the white stripe, with which certain 

 of the Hindoos adorn their foreheads. I was inibrmed that its name in Malayalum is 

 Manatee, or Washertnan, given from the continual upraising of its tail, the washermen 

 in this coimtry raising their clothes high above their heads and beating them on a stone. I 

 am ignorant of any facts as to its nidification. The species is figured here for the first 

 time I believe. I shall add a brief description of it, and a synopsis of the other 

 Indian species. 



Description. — Plumage above and neck in front, dusky black, darkest on head and 



